NEW ORLEANS — Barbara Farris, a champion coach and player in basketball, and outfielder A.J. Andrews, the first woman to receive a Rawlings Gold Glove for fielding excellence in softball, will be the keynote speakers Friday at the second annual Women in Sports Forum at Xavier University of Louisiana.The event — a dynamic program of keynotes, panel and roundtable discussions designed to empower young girls and women who are interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry — is sold out. More than 100 people have registered. XULA's Convocation Center Annex (7800 Washington Ave., New Orleans LA 70125) is the forum venue.
Farris was a standout center at St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie, La.) and Tulane before launching a 10-year career in the WNBA and winning a WNBA championship with the Detroit Shock in 2003. A 2017 inductee to the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, Farris is in her eighth season as girls coach at John Curtis Christian School, where her teams have won two LHSAA state championships. This season the Lady Patriots are 23-1 and have the No. 1 overall power rating in the state through Tuesday according to the LHSAA's unofficial rankings.
Andrews won the Gold Glove in 2016 as a member of a National Pro Fastpitch team, the Akron Racers. In 2017 she became the first softball player featured in ESPN The Magazine's annual Body Issue. She was a standout at Countryside High School (Clearwater, Fla.) and LSU. Andrews was first-team All-Louisiana in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and she was third-team All-America and first-team All-SEC in 2013. Twice she was second-team All-SEC.
"A.J. and Barbara have made a tremendous impact on women in sports," said XULA Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Dr. Ashley Baker, the forum founder. "They are role models for young women to look up to. It is an honor to have them both speaking at this year's Women in Sports Forum."
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold
No comments:
Post a Comment